Laura Longwell

A visit to Cheekwood Lights is a highlight of

Gettysburg is one of our favorite places on the East Coast. Popular for history, its attractive downtown, and excellent restaurants and bars, there are plenty of great things to do in Gettysburg.

Every winter, thousands of visitors flock to Johnson City to see its incredible light display.

Known for its charm and German-Texas heritage, the Historic District of Gruene, Texas, is a top attraction in the Hill Country.

Christmas in Fredericksburg, Texas, combines German traditions passed down through generations with the charm of the Hill Country and all the fun things the town is known for.

Brussels is a complex city. Both historic and modern, ornate and sleek, busy and quiet, the city has different personalities in only the span of a few blocks. But despite these contrasts (or maybe because of them), there’s something new and different at every turn. And I loved every bit of it.

To see a side of the Lone Star State outside of the big city, check out these day trips from Austin.

Oxfords’s core is compact and highly walkable, making it easy to cover a lot of ground quickly, so it’s ideal for a brief visit.

We expected Palermo to be gritty, rough-around-the-edges, largely without charm or intrigue. What we found was a city with blemishes, but also with a mix of fascinating influences, amazing food, friendly people, and a cultural and religious history stretching back for millennia.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has the feeling of a small town wrapped in a big city. Once known for its industries like tobacco and textiles, Winston-Salem has broadened its appeal as a center of art, culture, and food while still paying homage to its past.